This Day in Walter O’Malley History:

  • Jackie Robinson has three hits and scores a run in an 8-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Ebbets Field. Robinson stops a Cardinal rally in the eighth inning with an “extraordinary” catch of a foul pop fly, as reported by the New York Times. Robinson went to the top step of the Dodger dugout, made the catch and fell over, only to be saved from injury as pitcher Ralph Branca gathered him in his arms.

  • After being mentioned in the September 5 column of Walter Winchell, Walter O’Malley writes to him at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The column said, “Dodgers’ boss Walter O’Malley rates a back-pat for reminding fans how the lyrics go to the (National) Anthem. Via a giant-sized electric-sign in the bleachers...Any other ballpark do that?...” O’Malley writes, “Thank you for your note of September 11th, and the clipping which you enclosed. So far I have received 52 copies of the column so you once again touched a popular cord with the public. Many thanks.”

  • Kay and Walter O’Malley attend a reception at the Dodger Stadium Club for the presentation of a recently published book, “Alston and the Dodgers” written by Dodger Manager Walter Alston and Hall of Fame sportswriter Si Burick. The book was an autobiography of Alston, a future Hall of Fame skipper.